Genocide convict Murekezi case adjourned to next year

The Lilongwe magistrate court has today adjourned the case of a Rwandan genocide convict Vincent Murekezi.

Murekezi is being accused in his native country for participating in the 1994 genocide and after fleeing his country he obtained a Malawian passport.

This foreign businessman has been freely enjoying in the capital city of Lilongwe and he was arrested Thursday, December 8 after Rwanda National Prosecution spokesman Nkusi Faustin confirmed that they have been asking Malawi for the extradition of Murekezi from 2009.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Principal Secretary Dalitso Kabambe confirmed that Malawi government received “several requests” for extradition of extradition of genocide suspect.

He appeared before court today, Tuesday, December 13 where his case hearing was supposed to start today.

However senior assistant chief state advocate Steven Kayuni applied for the adjournment of the case saying the case involves international law hence need for the adjournment.

He said there is need to consult the Rwanda government and further asked for more 21 days to properly scrutinize the case.

He said there is also another warrant of arrest of Mulekezi who is wanted by the Malawi government over corruption charges and he jumped bail on the same charge in 2008 a development that got trashed by Mulekezi’s lawyer Gift Katundu saying it is not related to the current case.

Senior resident magistrate Patrick Chirwa adjourned the case to next year but says Mulekezi will still remain on remand at Maula prison.

About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu militias in the 100-day slaughter in 1994.